Air Pollution Masks: Which one works and which one doesn’t

Face masks have seen several centuries of humankind with desperate requirements. Humans have braved countless pandemics, airborne diseases, infections, viruses, dust allergies, and air pollution. From the dreadful bubonic plague in the 17th century (wore beak-like masks infused with herbs) to the Asiatic Flu in 1889 to the Spanish flu in 1918, to Asian Flu in 1956, ‘The Hong Kong Flu’ in 1968, to Covid - 19 now or the deadly air pollution episodes like Meuse valley in 1939, Bhopal gas tragedy in 1984, the Southeast Asian haze in 1997,  we have seen it all. Of all, face masks have certainly evolved through the ages and are still striving for betterment.

It is not just the airborne contagion but also severe air pollution levels, dust allergies, and lack of immunity that are deteriorating our quality of oxygen. It was way before Covid times many cities had realized that masks are here to stay for their lifetime. Though many households and firms in Delhi and NCR have already resorted to installing air purifiers, there is no escape from the outside pollution when one steps out. 

Covering your nose and mouth is the best you can do for now. Several public health agencies have strongly recommended wearing face masks to protect oneself from air pollution. The question is which face mask will provide the best protection yet let you breathe comfortably?

             It gets even more confusing as we come across multiple qualities of masks. Most of those are incapable of doing justice in protecting us from harmful particles like Covid aerosols and PM2.5.   

Find out if the Anti Pollution Herbal Immunity Mask Pack you wear stands the test of time according to the experts or not. There are a few standard features you must look for in a mask. -  What works.

1. Is your mask air pollution-proof?

 The efficacy of a mask depends on the standard rating of N90, N95, or N99. These masks can block particles as minute as down to 0.3 microns. It's easy to determine the percentage of fine particles each of these masks block, as N90 blocks up to 90%, N95 takes care up to 95%, and so on. Other standards are KN95 and FFP2 which are also equivalent to N95 masks. So, ditch your regular spiderman printed cotton masks and switch to Anti Pollution Herbal Immunity Pack, N95, KN95, and FFP2 for better protection.

2. Have you checked the mask seal?

It is imperative that your mask has a good seal suction to your face while you inhale. Those disposable and adjustable masks with good seal suction will prevent air inflow leaks by creating a concave surface. Make sure your mask is intact and not torn, folded, or damaged in the seal. This feature ensures the best protection during inhalation. To double-check, try wearing and re-fitting the mask.

3. Does your mask provide good ventilation?

Well, most of us have probably struggled with suffocating, difficult-to-breath masks many times. Another significant feature is your mask’s breathability. A good mask must give you space to breathe with comfort. Especially when you are exercising, doing physical activities, or outdoors for a longer duration. Blame it on those snug-fit and uncomfortable masks that many usually don't wear properly,  instead slide it down on the chin. A good ventilated mask will direct the exhaled air out through the exhaust valves and keep the mask from becoming moist as you breathe.

What does not work?

And there are other fancy-looking face covers available in the market made from cotton, rayon, polyester, and other synthetic fabrics. Many people prefer fashion over protection adorning attractive scarfs and other fabric masks. Though to an extent these fancy masks or one-time-use surgical masks, one-strap paper masks may offer protection against cough and sneeze droplets and look like you are adhering to the social distancing measures, but can fail at keeping you from

Fine air pollutants and aerosols exist in the breathing air for several hours.

Minuit dust particles, as small as 0.3 -  10.5 microns allow air leaks in the masks.

Large infected droplets and even coarse pollutants.

Of Course, protection has always been our priority and Covid 19 in recent times has taught us that in a bitter way. The pandemic, as a blessing in disguise in numerous ways, has made us realize the significance of self-care, working out, doing yoga, eating healthy, and not but at the least, enhancing our immunity. 

How can a weak immune system fail you?

A weak immune system is an open invitation to getting sick and affected by infections, viruses, and bacterial diseases. There could be severe harmful damages if one neglects to look into their health problems in the initial stages. It is extremely important that one seeks immediate medical help if flu or other symptoms show up.

Here are a few tips on boosting the immunity that can keep you strong and going.

1. 6 - 8 hours sleep - Dare you to ditch that 6-8 sleep! Sleep deprivation can interfere with your natural infection-fighting molecules' development. Studies have shown that people who are sleep-deprived are less healthy and prone to infections and influenza. Save your immune system by getting good sleep. 

2. Eating and drinking Healthy - You can’t ignore this one! With busier lifestyles, we often forget to work on our daily diet routine. It is always smart to maintain a healthy diet plan and follow it religiously. Add a little bit of mindfulness to your daily diet. While you may feel relieved by just designing a week-based planner packed with health essentials, are you sure enough that your pulses, veggies, and health beverages are free from chemical treatments? It’s imperative that you choose groceries, fruits, and veggies that are naturally produced and still pass your taste tests and take care of your immunity. KSKT is one such initiative that believes in chemical-free natural and manual farming practices, ensuring good health and immunity of their customers. They have a wide variety of groceries, condiments, and beverages that you can check out at www.kskt.in . 365 days a year keep yourself hydrated and keep reminders to drink water if you work in an AC room, there is no exception to this. Incorporating those immunity-boosting natural supplements and beverages into your daily intakes will only do you wonders! Create your own little Tea section with an Anti-pollution Herbal Tea pack from KSKT

3. Exercise - Be it your regular daily walk or that 1-hour tenuous workout in the gym,  you are already doing great! And your body, immunity, and mind can not thank you enough. There is no harm in exploring new physical workouts but don't push your limits too much. Listen to your body sometimes. Consult a physician or a Yoga instructor to find out what works best for your body.

4. Practice Mindfulness, and keep stress at bay! - Studies have shown how high levels of stress are the culprits of high blood pressure, breathing difficulty, gut health, IBS (Irritable bowel syndrome), or bad cardiac health. Control what you watch, listen and talk to, try directing yourself to a mindful attitude. Practicing mindfulness helps adopt a positive hopeful mindset. Remember a healthy mind is always a go-to for a healthy body and vice-versa.

5. Regular Medication - Though keeping it the natural way is always the best, the fast-changing times have challenged us in several ways. Anti Pollution Herbal Immunity Pack keeps you updated with available vaccinations, booster shots and medications that are imperative for strengthening immunity.

A healthy lifestyle, work-life balance, social life with social distancing when required and a lot of laughter are what your body longs for.